Goggles



W. .N. COOK July 17, 1928.

GOGGLES Filed Nov.- 1, 1924 ATTORNEYJ' Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM nnvms 000K, or NEW YORK, N. Y; ASSIGNOR '.r0 n. B. MEYROWITZ,1110., A. conrormcrron on NEW YORK.

GOGGLES.

Application filed November 1, 1924. Serial No. 347,168.

This invention relates to goggles and particularly to the constructionof the cushlons, forming a part thereof, for engagement with the head ofthe wearer. Heretofore, such cushions have been formed in endless ringsby joining together the ends of a str1p of rubber tubing, the abuttingends telescopmg over a short piece of tubing of smaller diameter inorder to complete the continuous ring. Rubber tubing has beenunsatisfactory for this purpose for the reason that the tubing hardenedafter standing for some tlme, and thus lost its resiliency and, if itWas held in a distorted position, such as by having creases therein, forany considerable length of time, such creases would remain 1n thetubing. Furthermore, the resiliency of the cushion was very materiallydecreased at the junction between the ends forming the endless ring byreason of the enclosed extra piece of tubing, and this was ob ect1onablebecause the pressure on the wearers head from the cushions was notuniform. It 1s also desirable that the cushions have a maximum contactsurface at the portions engaging the sides of the nose, and to obtainthis with a minimum of weight and obstructlon to vision was not possiblewith the cushions formed of tubing, since it is difiicult to manufacturetubing of non-uniform cross section.

An object of this invention is to provide improved cushions for goggleswhich Wlll have a minimum weight and a maximum effective cushion surfaceat the ends adjoining the nose piece; which will have uniform resiliencythroughout; which will have longer effective life; and which will beless expensive.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in claims.

In the accompanying drawing .Fig. 1 is an inside elevation of a pair ofgoggles, having attached thereto cushions constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with one of the eyepieces and cushionssectioned through the center; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the cushions before application to theeyepiece.

In the illustrated embodimentof the invention, the eyepiece frames 1,carrying the,

lenses or transparent elements 2, are connected by the usual extensiblenosepiece 3, so that the pupillary distance may be varied vwhen thegoggles are fitted upon different people. The free ends of the eyepieceframes are provided with the usual strap connections 4 by which thegoggles may be supported from the head before the eyes.

The cushions are each provided with aflange 6 around one side, by meansof which The cushions 5, in accordance with this in vention, are formedof What is known as sponge rubber, and are molded in integral continuousrings with the integral securing flange 6. WVhen so molded, the surfaceof the ring may be smooth and the interior of it, as in all spongerubber, will be porous, so that the ring will have considerableelasticity and resiliency. Sponge rubber does not readily harden in use,and by reason of its texture, will retain its shape and resiliency, eventhough it may be held under pressure or distortion for considerableintervals. Inasmuch as it is molded in a continuous ring, it will haveuniform resiliency throughout, so that the pressure upon the wearershead or face will be uniform.

The ring is preferably formed of greater cross sectional .area'at onepoint than at another, the cross section tapering between the points ofmajor and minor cross sectional dimensions which are diametricallyopposite one another. When viewed in the position of Fig. 3, the circleswhichoutline the inner and outer elements or margins of the annulus areeccentric with respect to each other. The rings are connected to theeyepiece frames with the points of greater cross sectional area of therings adjacent the nose bridge piece 3, so that the point'of maximumthickness is positioned at an an le from the vertical by an amountdetermined by trial and in accordance with the position of the wearerseye-hollows and so that they will fit snugly against the sides of the'nose and in the eyehollows beside the nose, and form a more effectiveseal against the entrance of air or flying objects. At the outer ends ofthe eyepieces, it is not necessary to provide as effecshape for thepurposes of simplicity, but will the faces of difierent users.

be elongated slightly when attached to the eyepieces so as to conform tothe usual elliptical configuration thereof. Being molded in a circularform, and then being distorted by tension into an elongated form tomatch the outline of the goggle lens, the rings are readily adjustedwith the larger section thereof in an advantageous position with respectto the-goggle lens, so as to obtain a maximum accuracy of fit andtightness of seal between the cushion and the wearers face.

Goggles of this-type are commonly worn by avlators, or others subjectedto air moving at a considerable velocity directly in their face, and ithas been found that goggles constructed in accordance with thisinvention, and with the large cushioI-al surface fitting at the sidesofthe nose, will more effectively and closely fit noses of differentconfigurations. Consequently, the more perfect seal will revent the airor flying objects from reaching the wearers eyes. Goggles with suchcushions are more comfortable to the wearer since there are no abruptchanges in resiliency, and the durability of the cushions is greaterthan in prior constructions.

When the cushions were made of tubin two operations were required, firstthe molding of the said tubing,'an'd then the converting of strips ofthe same into endless rings. In accordance with this invention but asingle moldin operation is required for the finished article, whichgreatly reduces the cost and. at the same time provides a more perfectproduct. This construction is particularly advantageous because of theaccuracy with which the cushion can be fitted to a wearers face, withthe larger portion of thecircumference adjusted into the deeper hollowsin the wearers face beside his nose. The construction has the furtherimportant advantage that it is readily adjustable to fit Among aviators,each, of course, likes to retain his own pair of go gles, however, it isreadily possible, by the construction above disclosed, after transfer ofthe goggles from one user to another, for the second user to re-adjustthe cushions to fit the particular location of the hollows in his ownface. This he may do by simply removing the stitching, re-positioningthe cushion to suit the contours of his own face, and then re-stitchingin that position.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, which havebeen herein 1. A resilient cushion for attachment to 4 an eye-pieceframe of a pair of goggles, comprisin an elongated integral ring memberforme of sponge rubber and having a varying cross section, and meanscooperating therewith, and comprising removable stitching, whereby thelarger section of said cushion is adapted to be adjusted in a facialhollow, attached to a goggle frame.

2. A sealing cushion for a goggle lens frame comprising a sponge rubbermember ofround form having dilferent thickness at difl'erent pointsthereon and having a stitching lip integral therewith and upon one facethereof, adapted to be adjustably and removably attached to'a goggleframe.

3. A goggle comprisin a main frame portion and a stitching e ge, and acushion means comprising a round member formed of sponge rubber ofdifferent thickness at different portions of the circumference, with anintegral stitching lip adapted to cooperate with the stitching edge uponsaid goggle frame, and means, comprising removable stitching, forholding said cushion member ,with its maximum thickness in a positionsuitable for one wearer and permitting adjustment of the maximumthickness to another position to fit another wearer.

4. A resilient cushion for attachment to an eye piece frame of a pair ofgoggles, comprising an annular ring member formed of resilient materialand having a varying cross sectional area at various points around theperiphery thereof, whereby certain portions of the annulus are largerthan other portions, and means for the attachment thereof to said eyepiece frame in an adjusted posit1on.

5. A resilient cushion for attachment to an eye piece frame of a pair ofgoggles, comprising anv annular ring member of resilient material, ofwhich the circles outlining the inner and outer margins of the annulusare V respectively eccentric, whereby the cross sectional area of theannulus is at a'maximum and at a minimum at diametrically oppositepoints.

6. A resilient cushion for attachment 'to aneye piece frame of a pair ofgoggles, comprlsing an annular ring member, of which the circlesoutlining the inner and outer margins of the annulus are respectivelyeccentric, whereby the cross sectional area of the annulus is at amaximum and at a minimum at diametricall opposite points, and thecushion is adapted to be adjustably positioned with res ect to'theridges and hollows of a wearers ace for the production of an prising anannular ring member, of which' the circles outlining the inner and outermargins of the annulus are respectively I eccentric, Whereby'the crosssectional area of the annulus is at a maximum and at a minimum atdiametrically opposite points, and the cushion is adapted to conform tothe ridges and hollows of a wearers face for the production of an airseal between said frame and the face, and means for attaching thecushion to the frame in an adjustedposition, comprising an integralauxiliary member adapted for connection to the frame.

8. In a goggle construction, the combination with the lens frames ofresilient cushions adjustably attached to said frames, said cushionscomprising annular rings of varying cross sectional area, those portionsof the .rings having the larger cross section being adapted to bepositioned at the points of deepest depressions of the wearers face.

9. In a goggle construction, the combination with the lens frames ofcushions of resilient materialattached to said frames, said cushionscomprising annular rings of vary- 10. A cushion for attachment to an eyepiece frame of a pair of goggles to surround the wearers eye, consistingof a sponge rubber rin the cross sectional area of which varies atdifferent points along its periphery, whereby it is ada ted by rotaryadjustment to fit the faces of ifi'erent persons.

11. A goggle comprisin a pair of lens frames and cushions attac edthereto, said cushions being rings of resilient material of varyingcross sectional area at various points around the periphery thereof,means for adjusting the cushions angularly with respect to then axes andmeans for adjusting the cushions toward and away from each other.

12. A cushion 'for attachment to aneye piece frame of a pair of gogglesto surround the wearers eye, consisting of a ring of resilient material.of varying cross sectional area at different points around itsperiphery, whereby it is ada .ted by rotary adjustment to fit the facesof different ersons.

13. A. resilient cushion or attachment to an eye piece frame of a pairof goggles, comprismg a ring having a varyin cross sectional area, animpervious sur ace, and a cushioned interior body, andmeans co-operatingtherewith, whereby that portion of said cushion of greater crosssectional area may be adjusted relatively to the eye piece frame to fita facial hollow, attached to a goggle frame.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

WILLIAM N EVINS COOK.

